GOT MOSQUITOES IN YOUR HOME? CHECK THESE UNEXPECTED PLACES FOR PESTS

GOT MOSQUITOES IN YOUR HOME? CHECK THESE UNEXPECTED PLACES FOR PESTS

Mosquitoes can ruin many outdoor outings during the summer. But when you find these bothersome pests inside your home, they can wreak havoc on anyone they encounter, especially at night. Worse, mosquitoes can carry and spread diseases, such as malaria and heartworm, to people and pets through their bites.

Although mosquitoes can land on walls, countertops, and even your skin, the pests begin their lives in water. Some types of mosquitoes frequent ponds, swamps, and marshes while other types thrive in moist conditions, such as wet soil and standing water.

If you’re ready to make your home safe again, follow the tips below to find and clean out two unexpected places where mosquitoes can live and breed.

CHECK YOUR INDOOR PLANTS

One of the biggest misconceptions about mosquitoes is that they need lots of standing water to lay eggs or live. In fact, mosquito larvae can survive in very little water. Because of this fact, you want to check places you might not expect to find mosquitoes, including your indoor planters.

Once mosquito eggs hatch, worm-like creatures called larvae emerge. You may not see eggs, but you may notice the larvae wriggling around in the damp soil or in small puddles of water. You may also see adult mosquitoes darting around the plants. If you notice any of these signs, take action.

First, protect your exposed skin from mosquito bites with insect repellent. Cover your hands with gloves, and then transport the planters to an area outside of your home. Empty the planters’ damp soil into a large trash bag, and then discard the bag in a sealed garbage can.

If you can save your plants, carefully place them inside new planters with clean soil. You might also find safe insecticide to add to the soil at a local home and gardening store. The insecticide may help keep mosquitoes away from your plants.

After you secure your planters, place your planters in as much sunlight as you can without damaging them. Mosquitoes generally avoid hot, sunny places.

In addition, remove any water that drops on the tables or counters you place your planters on.

CLEAN BENEATH YOUR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM SINKS

There’s one more thing you can do to get rid of the mosquitoes in your house. You can check your kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets for water. If you find water, clean up the area.

If your sink’s plumbing has any type of damage, water can drip from the pipes. The water allows mold, mildew, and bacteria to grow and thrive. The dampness can also attract adult mosquitoes and allow them to lay eggs.

To remedy this problem, put on a pair of gloves and grab a flashlight. The area beneath your sink cabinets might be too dark to examine without good lighting. Select a starting point, such as the left edge of your kitchen sink, and then shine the flashlight along the bottom surface. If you see glistening water, use a dry towel to soak it up.

After the water dries, spray bleach on the area. Bleach can help sanitize the cabinetry. If you can’t use bleach, you can use regular white household vinegar instead. Vinegar is a natural cleanser and a replacement for strong chemicals like bleach.

the cabinet dries, check and clean the bathroom sink cabinet. Be sure to repair or seal your leaking plumbing pipes. You want to avoid this issue in the future.

If the mosquitoes don’t go away or the infestation becomes worse after a week or so, contact the pest control specialists at Triangle Wildlife Removal & Pest Control Inc for further assistance. You may have other hidden places to treat.